Now that Christmas is over, its just living life a day at a time. Its nice to have so much free time. I've finished several books and have a stack of new ones to get through. Work is going well. I feel comfortable with the work load and I have some lovely students. Some of them are so adorable that I want to pick them up and give them a hug. I can see the joy that having one's own children brings.

I've been going out lots with Leesa and some of her friends lots lately. Its fun to hot some clubs again. The most interesting guys I've met however are the two guys selling kabobs outside the bar. Sali is from Turkey and Abdul is from Egypt. I've just finished reading a book called "The Nine Parts of Desire", about Islam and women. Its a fascinating book and I've become very interested in the Middle East (more so than before) and Islam. So the kabob guys are both Muslim, and one night, Leesa and I spent an hour asking them all sorts of questions. They were so nice and offered info and their opinions on certain issues. We were just interested in what they had to say, not to get confrontational or to debate anything. It was better to talk to these guys than listen to some idiot inside the bar brag about how many beers he can slam. Sali is the one who owns the kabob business and he came to Seoul to attend university and study computer science. Now I see him every weekend and we say hi and chat.

I guess that goes to show my frame of mind lately. With all my new free time, I find myself reading more news, researching random topics, like Ayatollah Komeini, or Russian politics and foreign policy. I read a biography of Vladamir Putin from a Time magazine and I'm actually following the American election. Leesa and I always get into discussions about some of these subjects, but I love to hear what she has to say about stuff.

I went to a Korean bath house on the weekend for the first time. There are separate areas for men and women, and everyone goes naked. I thought that maybe the staring would be reduced because of the situation and lack of clothing. But no. All the ajumas (older women) just kept on staring at me, all of me. I ignored it as much as I could but I did enjoy shooting daggers out of my eyes at the ones who wouldn't look away. I love the idea of saunas/bath houses though. It was inexpensive ($6), and I could stay as long as I wanted. There is a cold pool, a hot pool and a warm pool with jets. There are two steam rooms, and for an extra $20, I could get a 90 minute massage. There is a DVD room, where you can chill and watch a movie, or have a nap. Why doesn't North America adopt this tradition? Almost every other part of the world does. I see opportunity when I come home! Anyway, I felt amazing when I left. I'll be able to handle the staring the next time I go.

Denise, Leesa and I just booked another trip also. We're going to Shanghai for 5 days in February. We've booked our tickets, so we have to get visas and a hotel now. Our other friend Michelle just went and said it was amazing.

And finally, merci beaucoups. Thank you to everyone who sent me Christmas cards, gifts and kind holiday emails. I was truly touched and it meant a lot to me. It was much harder than I thought it would to be away from family and friends during the holidays. I'm lucky that I have new friends that could create some new traditions with me.

Happy b-days: to the wife, and congrats on getting your gun, to Colleen, to the Barnes' sisters, and happy 9th anniversary to Andrew and J.